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Woman from Honduras reunites with Oklahoma doctors who saved her life

Any Rodriguez thanks doctors, nurses who performed life-saving procedure

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Updated: 7:18 PM CDT Aug 9, 2013

Any Rodriguez reunites with the team of doctors and nurses who performed a life-saving procedure.

Woman from Honduras reunites with Oklahoma doctors who saved her life

Any Rodriguez thanks doctors, nurses who performed life-saving procedure

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Updated: 7:18 PM CDT Aug 9, 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY —

At 23 years old, Any Rodriguez is living the life of a normal college student, and completing an internship with Disney World.

Ten years ago, however, it was a different story.

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As a teenager Rodriguez was flown from her native city of Catacamas, Honduras to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital for a lifesaving procedure not offered in her home country.

Doctors operated to replace a badly damaged valve in her heart.

“Coming to a country that was not my native language, I was not very happy the first time that I came to the hospital," Rodriguez said. "I must admit, I was a little scared."

But as she looked back on her experience undergoing major surgery at the age of 13, she said her fears were immediately calmed by the outpouring of warmth at the hospital.

“They didn't even know me and they treated me like family, and I'm always going to be grateful for that," she said.

In an emotional meeting nearly a decade later, Rodriguez reunited with the medical team that helped perform the surgery.

“I just remember that she was so small, she seemed scared --really scared and quiet -- and we were just really glad to help her,” said anesthesiologist Dr. David Dautenhahn. “It's humbling to be a part of the team that helped her.”

“It’s wonderful," said Brenda Head, a cardiac rehab nurse. "She’s grown into a beautiful young woman and it’s just so thrilling that she did so well.”

Rodriguez said she came back to Oklahoma to express gratitude to the team who saved her life.

"I tried to express it with my hugs because I think words are not enough,” she said.